ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the who, what, why, and when of moving forward with Professor Sir Ian Diamond’s 2016 Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements, supporting a minister in making the argument for change, and building a consensus for implementation. It focuses on the importance of establishing and articulating a set of principles. The term “minor modification” was carefully chosen to reflect the slight changes between selected Diamond recommendations and Government policy, but in line with the guiding principles. The Minister’s statement was drafted with an explicit link between the principles and the policy package she was taking forward. The term “minor modification” was carefully chosen to reflect the slight changes between selected Diamond recommendations and Government policy, but in line with the guiding principles. Government, policymaking, independent reviews, coalition building, and political handling are a sophisticated and, at times, messy business.
